TV TOPIC: Film Actors with New TV Shows This Fall 2013 Season

Whether they're tired of auditioning for mediocre film roles or have finally accepted that they're never going to be Brad or Angelina, this season these film actors are opening up shop on a small tube near you:

Giovanni Ribisi on FOX's "Dads" 
(premieres Sept. 17 - Tuesdays at 8pm)

Memorable Film Roles: The Other Sister, The Mod Squad, Boiler Room, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Avatar, The Rum Diary, Contraband, Ted, Gangster Squad.

New TV Role: He's done offbeat characters on "Friends" and "My Name is Earl," but this new role should be a change of pace for him, as he'll be playing a straight-laced businessman whose father (Martin Mull) suddenly moves in with him and his wife (Vanessa Lachey).
Watch the promo >

Anna Faris on CBS's "Mom" 
(premieres Sept. 23 - Mondays at 9:30pm)

Memorable Film Roles: Scary Movie 3 & 4, Just Friends, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Smiley Face, The House Bunny, Observe and Report, Take Me Home Tonight, What's Your Number?, The Dictator

New TV Role: While this isn't her first time doing television, having had guest starring roles on "Friends" and "Entourage," it will be her first time starring in a series. In the CBS sitcom, she'll play a single mother (Anna Faris) who, after battling alcoholism, decides to restart her life, and struggles to do so because of her equally damaged mother's (Allison Janney) constant interference.
Watch the promo >

Malin Akerman on ABC's "Trophy Wife" 
(premieres Sept. 24 - Tuesdays at 9:30pm)

Memorable Film Roles: The Heartbreak Kid, 27 Dresses, Watchmen, Couples Retreat, Happythankyoumoreplease.

New TV Role: She's no stranger to sitcoms, as she has worked on "The Comeback," "Children's Hospital," and "Suburgatory." This, however, will be her first time starring in a series. She'll play a reformed party girl who ends up marrying a guy (Bradley Whitford) after she meets him at a karaoke bar. In the process, she finds herself dealing with his two ex-wives (Marcia Gay Harden and Michaela Watkins), their children, and the chaos that comes with mixed families.
Watch the promo >

Robin Williams on CBS's "The Crazy Ones" 
(premieres Sept. 26 - Thursdays at 9pm)

Memorable Film Roles: Dead Poets Society, Hook, Aladdin, Toys, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Birdcage, Jumanji, Jack, Flubber, Good Will Hunting, Patch Adams, Bicentennial Man, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, One Hour Photo, Happy Feet, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Old Dogs, Happy Feet Two

New TV Role: I cannot believe Robin Williams has been making us laugh for almost 40 years. I mean, he hasn't really for almost a decade, but he's been trying. A combination of personal issues and poor screenwriting can be attributed to that. Fans fingers are crossed though for this new series to revive his career and reputation as a great comedic actor. In it, he plays an eccentric executive at an ad agency who works with his uptight daughter (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Let the laughs begin.
Watch the promo >

Michael Sheen on SHO's "Masters of Sex" 
(premieres Sept. 29 - Sundays at 10pm)

Memorable Film Roles: Underworld, Laws of Attraction, Kingdom of Heaven, Underworld: Evolution, The Queen, Frost/Nixon, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, The Twilight Saga, TRON: Legacy, Midgnight in Paris, Admission

New TV Role: While it's true that Sheen was on a few hilariously awkward "30 Rock" episodes—were there any other kind?—after you watch this drama, you'll be seeing him in a whole new light. He's playing a doctor, opposite TV vet Lizzy Caplan ("Party Down"), who's interested in studying human sexuality, which leads to many scenes of sexual exploration, ripe with tension and double entendres. It's poised to be absolutely scintillating.
Watch the promo >

Rebel Wilson on ABC's "Super Fun Night" 
(premieres Oct. 2 - Wednesdays at 9:30pm)

Memorable Film Roles: Bridesmaids, Bachelorette, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Pitch Perfect, Pain & Gain

New TV Role: The scene-stealing Aussie import capitalized on her current buzz and pitched her own sitcom, which she's writing and producing. What sets her apart from Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham? While the critics and commenters will definitely group them together as "chubby, funny girls desperate to awkwardly find love," they shouldn't be so quick to judgegeneralize. From the promo alone, I can tell Wilson will be way more of a hot mess than those other two. By the end of the pilot, she will make them seem like well-adjusted young women.
Watch the promo >

Where Are They Now?: The Breakout Stars of Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Cancelled Shows

When the leaves are falling in September, primetime television is blooming, and when those leaves return seemingly overnight in the Spring, TV shows are just as swiftly shed to make room for next year's crop. Because of this reaping, the Fall 2012-Spring 2013 television season had a lot of tragic casualties who deserve a second shot on another series. Find out who you should be keeping an eye on in the future:

Theo James of CBS's "Golden Boy"
The 28-year-old Brit officially made his crossover leap to American audiences this season when he starred in his very own police procedural that dared to rejigger the genre's template, and tell the story of the road to power. Of course, it wasn't the first time American audiences laid eyes on him. While he did co-star with Kate Beckinsale in the poorly received sequel Underworld: Awakening, he's probably best known as the Turkish diplomat who died mid-coitus in the wildly popular and rarely racy British series "Downton Abbey." Luckily, his talents don't ebb at seduction. On "Golden Boy," James never strayed from his fake American accent, always captured the viewer with his mischievous looks and heroic self-sacrifices, and impressively carried the series better than most actors in their late 20s could've.

Suggested Roles: More than the action, James excelled at the emotional scenes, whether they were with a witness or his partner. While I still think he should carry his own series where he fights for the underdog, I wouldn't mind spotting him in "Rookie Blue" as a new love interest for Andy and BFF to Dov, an internal affairs investigator who's partnered up with Cat on "Beauty and the Beast," a do-gooding warlock that catches Rebecca's eye on "The Originals," or shock his fans and appear on "Boardwalk Empire," seeking revenge for Gyp Rosetti's murder.

Upcoming Projects: He'll play the main character's love interest in the adaptation of Divergent opposite Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Kate Winslet.

Judy Marte of CBS's "NYC 22"
More than a decade ago we were introduced to this young lady in the critically acclaimed indie Raising Victor Vargas, which poetically captured ghetto youth and its pitfalls. In CBS's ensemble cop dramedy about rookies from all walks of life policing the dangerous streets of New York, Marte played an anomaly: a kid who grew up in a dangerous family and chose a profession that would make her their enemy. The character had a lot to prove and a lot to lose, and Marte played that with guarded trepidation and tempered bravado, a volatile mix of Rosie Perez and Michelle Rodriguez.

Suggested Roles: She's been doing the indie thing for a while now, running a couple laps on the festival circuit, but I think it's time she set up some roots. Maybe she can stir things up on "The Newsroom" or play an undercover cop on FOX's upcoming series "Gang Related."

Adhir Kalyan of CBS's "Rules of Engagement"
While I'll agree that this sitcom overstayed its welcome longer than most shows that were cancelled by the network, I will miss its cleverest character, Timmy. He brought class to a lowbrow series and stole every scene, with either a scathing quip or deadpan self-pity, as the Felix Ungar to Russell's Oscar Madison. 

Suggested Roles: Kalyan's debut was in the thankfully short-lived, racially precarious CW series "Aliens in America," during their recent brief foray into sitcoms. Then he popped up in Paul Blart: The Mall Cop and co-starred with Michael Cera in Youth in Revolt, playing against type. I think he should continue down that path, and definitely stick to comedy, because he has a talent for it. He could guest star on "Big Bang Theory" as Raj's fully Americanized relative and maybe even make a play for Amy Farrah Fowler, or play someone Mindy's mother sends to woo her for an arranged marriage on "The Mindy Project," or CBS could do him a solid and add him as an intern on Robin William's new ad agency sitcom "The Crazy Ones."

Sophia Bush of CBS's "Partners"
It's been a decade since the CW introduced the world to the spitfire that was Brooke Davis. Bush played her with a free-spirited sexuality and insecure vulnerability that encapsulated many a bad girl. It'll probably be the most complex character she's ever offered in her career, but she deserves a lot better.

Suggested Roles: Bush is being typecast as a superficial fashionista. She needs something with a little more substance. Perhaps she can join "Arrow" as Laurel's competition and Oliver's bar manager, or "Hart of Dixie" as Zoe's friend and Wade's new love interest.

Andrew Rannells of "The New Normal"
Little known fact: This 34-year-old Broadway actor spent the first decade of his career doing animated voiceovers for shows like "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Pokemon." Thank god someone recognized his talents for hyperbole and drama just in time for The Book of Mormon to hit Broadway. Otherwise, non-theatergoers would've missed out on witnessing Rannells' impressive ability to play the scene-stealing, self-absorbed and yet nurturing father-to-be last season.

Suggested Roles: While I'm aware that gay actors can do more than just play gay, I think it's about time the gay drama genre made a comeback in a big way. Rannells, Luke Macfarlane ("Brothers and Sisters"), and Katherine Moennig ("The L Word") headlining a series about modern gay romance and issues would strike a chord in these rights-challenged times.

Upcoming Projects: Nothing solid as of yet, but he could always reprise his role on "Girls."

Jeremy Jordan of NBC's "Smash"

Best known for his Broadway role in the Tony-winning musical Newsies, Jordan managed to briefly reinvigorate the ailing series with his character's cocky, bad boy charm.
Suggested Roles: I stopped watching "Glee" a while ago, but I'm sure they could use him to throw a little strife into Blaine's life, or he could be the first singing Disney prince on "Once Upon a Time."
Upcoming Projects: He'll co-star in the adaptation of the romantic dramedy musical The Last 5 Years with Anna Kendrick.

Andre Holland of NBC's "1600 Penn"

As a grossly underutilized graduate of the short-lived dating series "Friends with Benefits," Holland had a pretty good year. Not only did he get to co-star in the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 as a groundbreaking sports reporter, but he also got to play the president's press secretary in the political family comedy "1600 Penn" opposite Tony-nominated actor and comedic writer Josh Gad. His exasperated incredulity and frustration at every scandal that arose perfectly complemented Gad's ignorant attempts at...basically everything.
Suggested Roles: He could be a polarizing love interest for Anne on "Parks and Recreation."
Upcoming Projects: He'll be in the race drama Black and White with Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, and Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty).

Dakota Johnson of FOX's "Ben & Kate"
The offspring of 80s icons Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith bumped around a bit in a few supporting casts on the big screen (Beastly, 21 Jump Street, and The Five-Year Long Engagement) before landing the lead female role in an unorthodox family series, where we got to see her Deschanel-esque awe-shucks bashfulness and goofy-nerd comedic delivery. 

Suggested Roles: She could be the rookie slash weakest link on the team of Josh Holloway's spy series "Intelligence" this Fall.
Upcoming Projects: She will appear in Aaron Paul's street-racing action film Need for Speed.

Eliza Coupe of ABC's "Happy Endings"

Fans may only know her as the blonde half of Brad & Jane, but her breakout role was actually on the "Scrubs" spinoff the year before, where she was a lot more hostile and tomboyish. It was quite the transformation. The girl is versatile. And her character's maniacal obsession with perfection, judgmental one-liners, and enviable relationship with her husband made her one of the best of an already awesome cast.

Suggested Roles: She's so good at delivering scathingly honest lines that I think "Veep" would make a good fit. She could also add some negativity to Robin Williams' "The Crazy Ones" or be an obnoxious authority figure on Marvel's "S.H.I.E.L.D."

Damon Wayans Jr. of ABC's "Happy Endings"
Don't say it. We're all thinking it. He should've stayed on "New Girl." No offense to Lamorne Morris, but Damon is a funny dude. True, he was a hundred times funnier on this series than he was on "New Girl," but they took a while to find their comedic footing. Now everyone's a lot funnier. Plus, "Happy Endings" was more suited to his type of physical and zany comedy. Whereas "New Girl" is one notch above Weird, "Happy Endings" is one notch above Crazy, which is oddly where most of the Wayans family feels comfortable. The Hollywood legacy has redefined what it means to be a black male character on TV, not only pushing the envelope with racial stereotypes but with heterosexual ones. 

Upcoming Projects: The comedy Someone Marry Barry with Tyler Labine ("Animal Practice") and Lucy Punch ("Ben and Kate"), and the buddy cop comedy Let's Be Cops with his old buddy Jake Johnson ("New Girl") and Nina Dobrev ("Vampire Diaries").

Mamie Gummer of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

I would pat myself on the back for calling the demise of this series before it was officially announced, but, um, everyone did. In Gummer's defense, though, it wasn't her fault. She was good at playing a naive, shy glorified doormat. But it so didn't fit her. She is Meryl Streep's daughter. And, however, unfair it might be to put her on a pedestal and expect more from her, it's not without good reason. If you've ever seen her guest star on "The Good Wife," then you know this kid can act. Those wilting lily characters she's being offered because of her blonde hair and fair skin are beneath her. During her arc, she took down an opponent with far more experience and basked in the glow of her victory. She's a beast. A mini-Meryl. She may be two failed pilots deep, but we never said she wouldn't have to fight for it.

Suggested Roles: I really hope that "The Good Wife" producers were smart enough to swoop in there and offer her a recurring role as a lawyer in Cary's new firm. Not only would she butt heads with Alicia, but she could come between Kalinda and Cary. "House of Cards" might also allow her to show off her ability to give life to strong female characters.
Upcoming Projects: She'll be in the Kristen Bell dramedy The Lifeguard.

Jared Kusnitz of MTV's "Underemployed"

As the straight-laced, environmental activist turned cubicle paper-pusher, his character represented the tribe of college grads who refuse to turn into their parents but are ultimately obligated to. He was the poster child for this generation's most prevalent obstacle: the quarter life crisis. Kusnitz played him with the right amount of anxiety and indecisiveness. You commiserated with him and even turned a blind eye to his missteps, because from 9 to 5, you are him.
Suggested Roles: He could play a nerdy distraction for Felicity on "Arrow." He could totally keep up with the 80s star as an assistant on "The Michael J. Fox Show." Or he could play a really smart guy Maggie thinks is out of her league on "The Carrie Diaries."

Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the online mockumentary "Addicts Anonymous," which was funded by Kickstarter.

Aldis Hodge of TNT's "Leverage"

After playing the intimidating and antagonistic rival football player Voodoo on "Friday Night Lights," no viewer could've ever imagined seeing him as a lovable nerdy goofball, but for four seasons that's exactly what he was. He played the overly confident, pop culture-loving hacker on a crack team of thieves and con artists—the most relatable and the funniest of the bunch.

Suggested Roles: Since I like him in group/team settings, I think he would be great on a police procedural or law series as the comedy relief.

Michelle Ang of MTV's "Underemployed"

It's not often that young Asian actors are cast in sexual roles. And when they are it's always some seedy, semi-pornographic, fetish scenario that's rather unrealistic. Ang, a Malaysian raised in New Zealand, played a young woman who was nervously discovering her sexuality and trying very hard to bravely embrace her homosexual desires. Her lesbian storyline wasn't tawdry or gratuitous. It was just another view of modern adolescent struggles.
Suggested Roles: I think it's important she continues to play against type. She could be a new lawyer at Cary's firm on "The Good Wife," do a quick arc on "Girls," or co-star in her own more diverse, generational series.

David Clayton Rogers of ABC Family's "Jane by Design"

Over the last decade, Rogers has gotten better at stealing scenes. I actually first saw him on the "Cougar Town" pilot, which wasn't really that funny, and it didn't seem like he and Courtney Cox were on the same comedic wavelength. He was doing bewildered and sane, and she was doing zany and obsessive. Regardless, once they introduced her main beau, he was rather forgettable. According to IMDb, he's been on "Gilmore Girls," "Brothers & Sisters," "Happy Endings," and "Grimm." None of it's ringing a bell. However, on this series, he has way more screen time and far more character development. Turns out "awkward" is where he excels.

Suggested Roles: He could awkwardly romance Anne on "Parks and Recreation," try to steal Jess from Nick on "New Girl," bring Quinn back from the edge on "Scandal," charm Peggy on "Mad Men," or if "Bunheads" is renewed, he could be a new small town hottie.
Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the sci-fi thriller Uncanny with Marc Webber and Rainn Wilson.

These breakout stars managed to score new gigs:

Chris D'Elia of NBC's "Whitney"
The stand-up comedian was practically unrecognizable when this series first premiered. Just a few months earlier he was on TBS's college comedy "Glory Daze," playing a disheveled, perpetually-high super senior. Then all of a sudden he had a sober cadence, playful jibes, and a confident swagger, and it was like he aged ten years in seconds. D'Elia is of that rare breed, manly but able to appear sincere in romantic plots, which is great for comedies that are meant for both demographics.

Upcoming Projects: He'll star in NBC's upcoming sitcom "Undateable," where he'll play a Don Juan who teaches a few romantically challenged guys how to navigate the treacherous waters of the dating world. He's currently filming the comedy Flock of Dudes with Bryan Greenberg ("How to Make It In America" and Bride Wars), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), Hilary Duff, Lea Michele, and Hannah Simone ("New Girl"). He's also doing stand-up in the Funny or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival with many comedians, including Dave Chapelle.

Zach Cregger of NBC's "Guys with Kids"

Since his debut in the sketch comedy series "The Whitest Kids U'Know," Cregger has been trying his best to land a more traditional sitcom. His first, "Friends with Benefits," put him on the back-burner, but this Jimmy Fallon-produced dude comedy showcased his talents a lot more. He played a snarky smart ass, like the male version of a frenemy. You wanted to hate him, but couldn't stop being amused.
Upcoming Project: He's currently attached to the female-driven NBC pilot "Assistance" with Krysten Ritter ("Don't Trust the B- in Apartment 23"). It's produced by Will Ferrell's company and based on a play by Bachelorette's screenwriter Leslye Headland.

Maddie Hasson of FOX's "The Finder"
This 18-year-old newbie played a feisty little loner, quick on the uptake but secretly vulnerable, as evidenced by her go-to pout and puppy-dog eyes. It's a bit uncharacteristic for blondes to have bite or for teenagers to outshine their superiors, especially for this Hollywood generation, but Hasson gives off a mysterious allure that's usually attributed to bad-boy heartthrobs, keeping you hooked.

Upcoming Projects: Currently, she stars in the ABC Family teen mystery series "Twisted," but she just completed the sport drama Underdogs.

Michael Rady of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

Ohhh where do I begin? I first noticed Mr. Rady when he played the incredibly sexy Greek Kostas in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Every teenage girl's fantasy is to meet a hot foreigner with an accent and an adventurous attitude. He was like catnip for the tweens to twentysomethings. He didn't re-enter their lives in any other capacity until he briefly popped up in the ABC Family college series "Greek" and starred in the CW's "Melrose Place" reboot. Since the cancellation of those shows, he's done a few guest arcs on "House of Lies" and "The Mentalist." He definitely gets around, but he always plays the same guy: An endearing, gentle soul with a forgiving, if not ignorant, nature.

Upcoming Projects: Not only is he starring in the indie rom-com Romantic Encounters with Meghan Markle ("Suits"), but he scored a supporting role in Josh Holloway's spy thriller "Intelligence."

Phoebe Tonkin of The CW's "The Secret Circle"
I didn't want to like her character, but I couldn't help it. This little Aussie plays catty divas and wherever they go, trouble soon follows. After her Wicca-themed series "The Secret Circle" failed to build a cult following on The CW, she hopped over to "The Vampire Diaries" to seduce a werewolf and birth an Original hybrid. As a beautiful girl with ambiguous ethnicity, who's mastered bitch face and the sympathy pout, she has a lot of potential.

Upcoming Projects: She'll co-star in The CW spinoff "The Originals," and appear in the drama The Ever After, written by actors Mark Webber and Teresa Palmer, which will also star Rosario Dawson and Jaime King.

Michael Ealy of USA's "Common Law"

Those dreamy-dreamy eyes. You'd never think he started off playing a standoffish tough guy in Barbershop. Who knew his niche would be seductive charmers? Even though his supporting gig on "FlashForward" fell through, his guest star role on "The Good Wife" ran its course, and his lead role on the buddy cop series "Common Law" was short-lived, he managed to reignite the public's interest in him with last year's urban rom-com Think Like a Man, where he played a struggling chef who doted on the woman of his dreams and never felt threatened by her success. Dream guy, question mark.
Upcoming Projects: He'll star in the FOX sci-fi buddy cop series "Almost Human," where he'll play a humanized robocop of sorts. And next year, he'll star in another urban rom-com called About Last Night alongside Regina Hall and comedian Kevin Hart, and reprise his role in the Think Like a Man sequel.

Serinda Swan of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

Very few actresses can pull off badass and beautiful. To be both what men covet and fear. It isn't just the eyeliner, Swan's got a knack for it. You get the sense that she can handle herself in a fight, against either sex. There's a wave of heroines taking over pop culture, from the Katniss's to the Calisi's. And it's good to know there's more on the horizon.

Upcoming Projects: She's co-starring in USA's crime drama "Graceland."

Jimmi Simpson of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

I have no recollection of ever seeing this guy anywhere else. He's one of "those guys" that fit in anywhere and go unnoticed. Watch this series though and there's no way he won't make an impression. He played a timid, obnoxiously intelligent, mildly autistic, condescending Rain Man. Hands down, he was the best part of the series.

Suggested Roles: Since Sherlock defeated Moriarty, he could go head-to-head with him on "Elementary," or be a major political player in the next season of "Revolution."
Upcoming Projects: He'll join Netflix's "House of Cards" next season in a recurring role and this summer, he's in White House Down. He has the indie fantasy adventure Knights of Badassdom with Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones"), Summer Glau (Serenity), and Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood"), and the comedy Gravy with Sarah Silverman, written and directed by James Roday of "Psych."

FILM: The Best Romantic Grand Gestures in Film

Many films, romantic or not, have had perfect couples, interesting meet-cutes, and memorable dates. But there's one component of a romantic plot that clinches it for the viewer: the grand gesture. There are many kinds, from the heroic to the tear-inducing. Below I've comprised a list of some of the best. Obviously, there are major spoilers. Of course, if you haven't seen half of these films already you've either been in a coma for the last twenty years or you don't have a uterus.

APOLOGIES

+Never Been Kissed
To apologize for lying about her identity and almost getting Michael Vartan's character fired, Drew Barrymore's character publishes a heartfelt apology on the front page of the city's newspaper, asking him to meet her on the mound before a high school baseball game to give her her first official kiss.
+Pitch Perfect
Skylar Astin's character is amazed that Anna Kendrick's character doesn't enjoy watching movies, and therefore has missed out on some amazing scores. So he shows her the ending of The Breakfast Club so that she can be as affected by the final monologue and the accompanying track as he is. But she doesn't react the way he expects her to. Later, when she shuts him down so hard he refuses to talk to her, she watches the movie and the final song hits her the way he knew it would. She then creates a mix for their final performance that includes The Breakfast Club song, as her way of apologizing.
>Watch the scene!<


THOUGHTFUL GIFTS
+10 Years
Oscar Isaac's character is a famous musician with a very popular song that everyone at his high school reunion knows. The only person that doesn't seem to know the song is Kate Mara's character. He spends most of the film reminiscing with her and talking about their present lives. She tells him a story about a pair of yellow heels she had in high school and how she always felt invisible, as evidenced by a wall of photos where she only appears in the background of one photo. Later, when she and the rest of the bar ask him to sing his famous song, she's listening to the lyrics for the first time and realizes that it describes her. All this time she thought she was invisible and she had no idea she was immortalized in a famous song.
>Watch the scene!<

+Bridget Jones Diary
After reading her private and embarrassing thoughts about him and their relationship, Colin Firth's character doesn't flip out or run for the hills. He instead goes out in the snow to buy Renee Zellwegger's character a new diary to keep writing.
+Confessions of a Shopaholic
Isla Fisher's character has a signature green scarf throughout the film, her last splurge purchase. When she finally succumbs under the weight of her massive debt, she sells all of her designer clothes in a sample sale and auctions off the scarf, which is now famous because of her finance column. A mysterious bidder on the phone succeeds in placing the highest bid. Later, we discover it's Hugh Dancy's character, who thought she should get to at least keep one piece of her extensive couture collection.
+Five Year Engagement
After waiting so long to plan their wedding and get married, Jason Segel's character plans a shotgun wedding where Emily Blunt's character gets to make quick wedding-planning decisions, choosing a band, a dress, etc. minutes before they say "I Do." It takes the pressure off so they can finally start their lives together.
+From Nada to Prada
When Alexa Vega's rich character first arrives in the barrio, she has to sell all of her stuff and downgrade. A car her aunt purchases for her has a busted side mirror, and even though Vega's character butts heads with Wilmer Valderrama's intimidating neighbor character, he fixes the mirror without telling her. Later, after her car accident and their falling out, he builds a ramp to make it easier for her to enter the house with her wheel chair. Neither time does he seek gratitude.
+The Lorax
In order to impress a tree-lover, the lead character ventures past their town's boundaries to search for any signs of vegetation.
+P.S. I Love You
Gerard Butler's character leaves letters for Hilary Swank's character after he dies to help her cope with her loss of him and move on.
+The Silver Linings Playbook
Bradley Cooper's character figured out that Jennifer Lawrence's character wrote a fake letter from his ex-wife to give him hope and make him do the dance competition, but instead of calling her out, he plays along and goes through with it.

+Sixteen Candles
Everyone forgets Molly Ringwald's character's birthday because of her sister's impending wedding, so after an entire night of trying to connect with her, her crush picks her up from the church, takes her back to his house, and presents her with a birthday cake, so she can finally celebrate.
+What's Your Number?
Anna Faris's character makes dioramas fitted with cartoonish statues. It's a hobby that she's too afraid to be passionate about. Instead of thinking she's a weirdo, Chris Evans' character builds display cases in her apartment so she can feature them proudly.


HEROIC ACT

+Clueless
Alicia Silverstone's character volunteers to help out with her father's legal case so she can flirt with Paul Rudd's character. At some point, she fudges the task, and one of her father's associates flips out on her and calls her stupid. Rudd comes to her defense and rebuilds her self-esteem, leading to their first kiss.
+Ever After
A band of thieves attempt to rob Dougray Scott and Drew Barrymore's characters while they walk through the woods. They're willing to let her go, but instead she makes a deal with their leader to take whatever she can carry. She then lifts Scott's character over her shoulder with the intention of carrying him away. The thieves are so amused by her attempt that they tell her to stop, and invite both of them to their camp.
+Forgetting Sarah Marshall
After Mila Kunis's character tells Jason Segel's character that there's a topless photo of her in a bar that she regrets taking, he steals it and risks a beat down.
+Knight & Day
Throughout the film Tom Cruise's character has repeatedly kidnapped Cameron Diaz's character for her own protection. Also, since the government faked his death, he's not allowed to contact his parents, but checks up on them often. In the end, when it's clear that the agency intends on sending him somewhere secluded to live out the rest of his days, Diaz's character kidnaps him from the hospital and has his parents meet them in the one place he's always wanted to retire.
+Let Me In
Kodi Smit-McPhee's character is constantly bullied by his classmates and one night when they almost drown him, his vampire buddy, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, rips them all apart and saves him.
+Love and Other Drugs
When Jake Gyllenhaal's man-whore character learns Anne Hathaway's character has Parkinson's, he doesn't ditch her. He, instead, goes to great lengths to find treatment and save her life.
+Overboard
In the middle of the film, Kurt Russell's character tells Goldie Hawn's character a story about star-crossed lovers who tried to find each other in the ocean. In the end, when her husband holds her hostage, they both jump out of their boats and swim to each other like in the love story, screaming the character's names.
+True Lies
Arnold Schwarzenneger's character hangs out of a helicopter to retrieve Jamie Lee Curtis's character from a limousine that's about to cross a damaged bridge.


MAKING A FOOL OUT OF THEMSELVES

+10 Things I Hate About You
First, Heath Ledger's character serenades Julia Stiles's character while she's mid-soccer practice to get her attention. Then, because he gets sent to detention, she flashes the teacher monitoring detention so he can escape. Then, at the end, after she realizes he was being paid to date her, she reads a heart-wrenching poem she wrote about him in front of the entire class.
>Watch the scene!<
+500 Days of Summer
Zooey Deschanel's character introduces this weird game where they both say the word "penis" exponentially louder in a park until one of them chickens out. Joseph Gordon Levitt's character screams it as loud as he can to impress her, in spite of his crippling shyness.
>Watch the scene<
+Beastly
Alex Pettyfer's character is an obnoxious snob. He humiliates a wiccan and she curses him to be as hideous on the outside as he is on the inside. In order to break the curse, he has to get someone to fall in love with him for who he is before the year is up. But instead of forcing it with Vanessa Hudgens' character just to save himself, he shows up at school for the first time since he was cursed and professes his love to her in front of everyone, submitting to the stares and whispers that he was trying to avoid all along.
+Drive Me Crazy
Adrian Grenier's character was egregiously opposed to PDA, so in order to win Melissa Joan Hart's character back, he slides down the centennial sculpture with slicked-back hair and a tuxedo, making himself the center of attention, and asks her to dance.
+Hitch
Kevin James's character notices Amber Valletta's character is a a goofy dancer, so instead of using the cool dance moves Will Smith's character taught him, he decides to dance just as goofy as her to make her seem normal.
+Valentine's Day
Eric Dane's character is in a lover's spat with Bradley Cooper's character. He's a famous athlete and being openly gay would be bad for his rep. But in order to prove his love for Cooper's character, he holds a press conference where he comes out of the closet.


SACRIFICE
+13 Going On 30
After spending the entire film being the popular girl she's always wanted to be and realizing that all that mattered was having Mark Ruffalo's character by her side, Jennifer Garner's character regains consciousness as her thirteen-year-old self and bravely rejects the popular girl, giving up any chance of being apart of her clique.
+17 Again
Zac Efron's character gives up a potential basketball career for a second time so that he can be with his wife, Leslie Mann's character, and their kids.
+50 First Dates
Adam Sandler's character forgoes a normal life for one where his wife, played by Drew Barrmore, has to watch a video every morning to remind her of who he is and who their children are.
+The Adjustment Bureau
When Matt Damon's character learns that Emily Blunt's character will never be successful at doing what she loves if she stays with him, he let's her go.

+Anna Karenina
At the start of the film, Alicia Vikander's character is a spoiled brat who is smitten with Aaron Taylor-Johnson's seductive character, so she rejects the sweet character that Domhnall Gleeson plays. Later, when she finally gets over her misguided crush and realizes the mistake she made, she accepts Gleeson's character's proposal. When he brings her back to his estate, they discover that his brother, played by David Wilmot, has fallen ill and his foreign prostitute wife is the only one caring for him. Gleeson's character assumes that Vikander's character will be her usual aristocratic self, but instead she pulls up her sleeves and tends to his needs, which in that time period would be considered taboo.
+Coming to America
Eddie Murphy's African prince character forfeits his throne and his inheritance to be with an American commoner and work minimum wage.

+Country Strong
Leighton Meester's character is hellbent on becoming a huge country star just like her idol, Gwyneth Paltrow's character. But after witnessing her alcoholic downward spiral and learning that her one regret was prioritizing her fame, she forfeits her big break to be with the soulful country singer, played by Garrett Hedlund.
+Dedication
Billy Crudup's character seems rather autistic and one of his hang-ups is that he doesn't drive. After tanking his relationship with Mandy Moore's character, he slowly and timidly drives himself to her book signing to declare his love for her.
+Excess Baggage
Benicio Del Toro's character forfeits a massive payday and risks his life to save Alicia Silverstone's character after trying to get rid of her for a majority of the film.
+The Hunger Games
Josh Hutcherson's character embeds himself with the other hunters so that he can prevent Jennifer Lawrence's character from getting murdered, knowing that if they are the last survivors, she would have to kill him.
+John Carter
The title character, played by Taylor Kitsch, chooses to leave Earth, and everything familiar, to permanently live on Mars to be with the princess.

+Love Actually
Even though Andrew Lincoln's character is in love with his best friend's wife, played by Keira Knightley, he doesn't try to steal her away. Instead, he plays caroling music when she answers her door as a cover so that she can read a funny message written on poster boards where he professes his love for her and promises to never act on it.
>Watch the scene!<
+Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
After getting to know Anne Hathaway's princess character, Chris Pine's character refuses to follow his scheming uncle's orders and forfeits any right to the throne.
+Ruby Sparks
Once Paul Dano's character realizes that controlling Zoe Kazan's character's every move does not constitute a relationship or true love, he sets her free.
+Safety Not Guaranteed
In the end, when Mark Duplass's character finally attempts to go back in time, Aubrey Plaza's character has to decide if she's going to take this leap of faith with him. If it doesn't work, then at least she was supportive of his dream. And if it does work, then she'd be abandoning her dad and venturing off into the unknown.
+Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Ewan McGregor's character resigns from his government position to follow through with the project and stay with Emily Blunt's character, even though there's a chance her boyfriend will return.
+Seeking a Friend at the End of the World
First, knowing that Keira Knightley's character is his last chance at love, Steve Carrell's character makes his father fly her to England to see her family one last time. Then she forces his father to turn the plane around because she'd rather die by his side.
+Slumdog Millionaire
Dev Patel's character goes to great lengths to save Freida Pinto's character from settling for a rich, dangerous man she doesn't love, and loses his brother in the process.
+Wild Target
Bill Nighy's character comes from a long line of assassins. He's hired to kill Emily Blunt's con artist character, but instead falls in love with her. He risks the wrath of his retired mother and his employer by refusing to go through with it and killing anyone who comes near her.


PROVING THEY'RE WORTHY
+Crazy, Stupid, Love
One night when Steve Carrell's character secretly goes over to his ex-wife's house, she calls him while he's in her backyard, claiming that there's something that needs fixing. He begins to walk her through how to fix the problem, and she pretends she's doing what he's saying, and all the while, he's watching her through the window. It's a sweet moment as they both desperately needed to be around each other but had to make up a reason to hear each other's voice or see each other.
+He's Just Not That Into You
Ben Affleck's character doesn't want to get married and Jennifer Aniston's character does, so they break up. When her father has a health scare, he comes over and helps out. All he does is clean up the kitchen and do some laundry, but given that her sisters' husbands have done nothing helpful, she decides right then and there that she doesn't need a ring to prove that he's committed to her.
>Watch the scene!<
+The Tourist
Angelina Jolie's character is an undercover agent who falls in love with her mark. When he disappears, she figures he abandoned her. But he devises a way to get back to her. He hires someone to pretend to be him and to make the government to believe he's someone else, played by Johnny Depp. Because that endangers Depp's character, Jolie's character is forced to protect him, and in the process, she falls for him. In the end, we discover that her mark and Depp are the same man, and he had plastic surgery so they could be together. But at the same time he proves that she loved him no matter what he did for a living or what he looked like.

What's the most romantic grand gesture you've ever seen?

FILM: The New 2012 Directors and Screenwriters to Watch Out For

Every year some lucky bastard's screenplay gets greenlit and previously ignored auteurs finally get to translate their visions to the screen. Below you'll discover not only the directors and writers who made their big debut in 2012, but also what high-profile projects they already have lined up.

Tracy Letts | Killer Joe, writer
Where does one go after adapting their fried chicken blow job scene for the big screen? Well, I'm not sure what you would do, but Letts has already adapted another one of his plays, the dramedy August: Osage County. You might of heard of it. It's about a family that overcomes certain differences when their alcoholic patriarch goes missing. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will soon, because it has quite the star-studded cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock"), Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, and Abigail Breslin. Here's hoping no poultry is defiled in the making of this one.
 
Josh Trank | Chronicle, director and co-writer
The same way Marc Webb's clever storytelling methods in (500) Days of Summer caught the eye of The Amazing Spider-Man producers, Trank has impressed Hollywood with his ingenuity in filming an awesome sci-fi action film with a meager budget. It's rumored that he'll direct the Spider-man spinoff Venom, but there's no set date as of yet. It's more likely that the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot that he's been tapped to write and direct will hit theaters first.

Max Landis | Chronicle, co-writer
The writer's next project, the action comedy Good Time Gang, has yet to secure a director or a release date, but it already has two leading men, Mark Wahlberg and Jonah Hill. It'll follow party-happy mercenaries who decide to take on a serious case involving a terrorist, only to find their mission complicated when they discover one of them is related to the target.

Lynne Ramsay | We Need to Talk About Kevin, director and co-writer
After delving into the mind of a teenage sociopath, she's signed on for the western Jane Got a Gun, starring Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, and Joel Edgerton. In it, a woman asks her ex-lover for help in order to save her outlaw husband from a gang out to kill him. 

Matt Drake | Project X, co-writer
While it may seem like there wasn't much to his film, organizing that level of chaos is actually quite impressive. This year, we'll get to see him strut his stuff solo with the action rom-com The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, starring Shia Labeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale), Rupert Grint, and Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation"). It's about a guy who withstands beating after beating to woo a mobster's girlfriend. Match.com really must be coming up dry these days.

Dan & Kevin Hageman | Hotel Transylvania, co-writers
These boys were one of many writers who contributed to this monster mash of an animated film. Currently, Warner Bros. is shooting the latest project they collaborated on, the animated adventure Lego: The Piece of Resistance. It's being co-directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the guys behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street, and Chris McKay, who does the "Robot Chicken" series. The story is about an ordinary Lego mini-figure, who is mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, and is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from gluing the universe together. Voicing the little guys are Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett ("Arrested Development"), Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation"), Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation"), and Alison Brie ("Community"). 

TV: Best New TV Scene-Stealers of 2012

These are the new primetime actors you can't get enough of this season:

Andrew Rannells's Bryan Collins in "The New Normal"
I know this is technically redundant—patting a gay guy on the back for playing a gay man is like applauding Sophia Vergara for playing a hot woman. But Rannells has really succeeded in pushing past the usual stereotypes. Sure, his character Bryan is judgmental, feminine, and style-fixated, but he's an eager dad and loving husband first and foremost. That's not to say that he shies away from embracing his homosexuality. A gay advocate on primetime television hasn't been this vocal since "Will & Grace" was at its peak in the early 00s. And I for one am happy that television is finally starting to reflect reality instead of Middle America's truncated fantasy.

Aubrey Anderson-Emmons's Lily Tucker-Pritchett on "Modern Family"
Five-year-olds don't have comic timing. Therefore, what Aubrey does is unnatural. One-liners from children are rarely if ever tweeted—and if so, they are adorable or naive, not insulting and hostile. This girl's got a mouth on her. You often wish you were that clever at your age, let alone her's. And you definitely wish you could get away with saying half the things she does. She's your youngest idol.

Bobby Cannavale's Gyp Rosetti on "Boardwalk Empire"
Sigh. I don't even know where to begin. I mean, I know where I want to begin—the dog collar sex scenes—but I feel like I might need to preface that with something. Let's see…you have never, ever, ever seen Bobby Cannavale like this before. Or, at least I haven't. The first time I saw him was as Will's boyfriend on "Will & Grace." So hunky, so dreamy, and—that voice!—so macho! It was a while before I saw him again trying to be eccentric in the short-lived "Cupid" reboot, and failing to be supportive in the indie drama Win Win. So when he popped up on Martin Scorsese's HBO drama with an Italian accent and a hot temper, I thought, Man! He was born to play a mobster. It wasn't even like he was playing pretend. You believed he was a killer. An easily offended, insecure animal who had to be chained and beaten to be aroused. He was like a mobster's id come to life—the uncivilized, untamed, primal incarnation. The difference between him and the rest of the gangsters is that they're driven by money and he's driven by the desire for respect. But who can respect an animal? It's a recipe for disaster. Every episode you sat on pins and needles, waiting to see what would set him off next as if any of the backlash could ever fall upon you.

Brett Gelman's Mr. K in "Go On"
Mr. K is an essential component to what makes Matthew Perry's latest sitcom work. He pushes the sanity envelope just enough to make the audience wonder if they did in fact hear or see what just happened, without annoying them so much they turn the channel. It's evident from ensemble sitcoms like "Community," "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and "Happy Endings" that there's always one guy who's a litttttle off. Mr. K puts them all to shame.

Clare Bowen's Scarlett O'Connor on "Nashville"
This young Aussie plays a mousy songwriter/singer who doesn't give herself half as much credit as she deserves. She's the kind of singer who doesn't need the revealing wardrobe or a gossip-worthy public lifestyle to impress an audience of music lovers. She snuggles under your skin with every crooning note, and changes the rhythm of your heartbeat with every tear-inducing lyric. Taylor Swift wishes she was this good.

Jake Lacy's Pete on "The Office"
Pete is a godsent. This workplace sitcom has been gradually boring the hell out of its fans for the last few seasons and it has nothing to do with Steve Carrell's departure and everything to do with the core love story between Jim and Pam dissolving into a boring marriage. They were the heart of the series and now it's just odd behavior initiated by Ed Helms, as if starring in The Hangover has now given him some sort of free reign over hogging most of the screen time. Thankfully though,  there is a romance brewing between the new employee Pete and Andy's on-again-off-again girlfriend Erin that mirrors the love triangle that Jim, Pam, and Roy were entangled in. A sweet, under-appreciated receptionist is secretly wooed by an underachieving fellow employee, who patiently waits for her to realize that she must dump her undeserving, inconsiderate boyfriend. Thank you Pete. For keeping me awake on Thursday nights.

Jared Kusnitz's Lou on "Underemployed"
It's easy to get distracted by all of the other characters on the series. There's the ladies' man Miles, the newly lesbian Sophia, the high-energy Daphne, and the mopy new mom Raviva. So someone as ordinary and chill as Lou could easily fade into the background. But I think he's the easiest to relate to of the entire gang. He works in an office. He hates his job. He wishes he was doing something more productive with his life. He feels like a failure in his parents' eyes. He's hit with more responsibility than he's ready for. And he easily gives into temptation. He encompasses everything this generation is facing in a very realistic manner. Now if only he were real. Teehee.

Kate Hudson's Cassandra July on "Glee"
The rom-com queen has been unsuccessfully trying to remake herself for many years now. Her core audience, romantics, have basically been ignoring her attempts. Oh you want us to see a horror movie? (Skeleton Key) No thank you. You want us to watch a Broadway musical adaptation with Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman? (Nine) We're going to pass. A crime thriller with sex and intrigue? (The Killer Inside Me) Nahhh. Could you maybe kiss Matthew McConaughey again? Oh he's busy trying to win an Oscar? I think John Krasinski's free (Something Borrowed). As you can see, it's been tough. But somehow some way, Ms. Hudson snuck past all of those pigeonholing bitches to play a bitter Broadway hasbeen who can out-dance and out-seduce Lea Michele every week, making you both hate and love her. She doesn't even seem out of place like Sarah Jessica Parker. You almost forget she's the mother of two and Hollywood royalty.

Nick Robinson's Rowland Smith on "Boardwalk Empire"
He may have only been in one episode, but it was an unforgettable character. This kid had not only stolen from one of the most respected mobsters in Atlantic City, but he also gloated about it—to his face! He was an enterprising opportunist. He had more potential at his age than most of Nucky's goons will have in their entire lifetime. You admired him. Rooted for him. And mourned him. Oh and by the way, for those of you who've never seen Nick Robinson in anything else, he sounds like that in real life. He wasn't pretending to have a 40s gangster accent. That's his voice. I know, right.

Ray Romano's Hank Rizzoli in "Parenthood"
"Everybody Loves Raymond" fans remember Ray as this deadpan goofball who was constantly exasperated by his family. After 9 years of tuning in for the Raymond family hijinks, very few of them signed on for a more solemn and tormented Ray in TNT's "Men of a Certain Age." He understandably wanted a change of pace, but that was as smooth as Michael Jackson going from black to white—little tough to take. His character in "Parenthood" is a more comfortable mixture of melodrama and humor. He's still this depressed fuck-up, but with the equally damaged and stalled Sarah as his love interest, and his sardonically humorous one-liners, he becomes this character you're rooting for, enough to make Mark+Sarah-shippers finally release Jason Ritter from his contractual obligations.

Zach Cregger's Nick on "Guys with Kids"
I love Jimmy Fallon, but this show isn't as funny as he is—or at least as his writers are on "Late Night." I endure it though because I like watching men suffer. (Read into that what you will.) Cregger though breaks up the monotony—and the stilted sitcom acting—with some much-needed harsh candor that only a sarcasm lover like myself could appreciate. He makes me want to watch his other short-lived NBC series "Friends with Benefits" again. Kidding.

TV: Best New TV Shows of 2012

In order of category, I give you the best new shows to hit primetime this Fall season:

Best New Action Drama: "Revolution"
I realize you've probably had it up to HERE with conspiracy theory mystery dramas, but give this one a try. What's interesting about it, whether the creators and the network know or not, isn't the mystery as to why all the electricity in the world turned off or who did it. What's interesting is how it affected humankind, how we adapted, who adapted better than others, and what it's turned us into. It's like a case study on the effects of technology on an extremely dependent society. It's like when your cell phone battery dies or DVR is on the fritz, except exponentially worse. It's like the aftermath of Sandy on a non-stop, global scale. No FEMA. No China. No nothing.

Best New Drama: "Nashville"
I'm not going to lie to you: If you hate country music, listening to the sporadic performances might become annoying. But if you're as fascinated by the music industry and how it churns out hits and hitmakers and discards them once they're unmarketable, and how gossip is disseminated and manipulated to either promote or destroy an artist's career, then you're going to enjoy this show. It'll make you wonder which musicians have gone through the same troubles and what they're hiding behind their perfectly manicured facades.

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Best New Dramedy Geared Towards Young Adults: "Underemployed"
In this generation of struggling new graduates, overwhelming unemployment statistics, and loan debt, it's fair to assume that characters like these exist. Unlike most of the "unscripted" content on MTV these days, it's very relatable and fairly well-written. It captures the small victories in life, from promotions to coming-out speeches, and the moments that test us, from pending eviction to unplanned pregnancies. It's a mirror of the current generation that serves to commiserate with the unfortunate masses.

Best New Ensemble Comedy: "Go On"
For a minute there, you thought Matthew Perry would never crawl from under the crippling success of "Friends." He tried with NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" in '06 and again last year with ABC's "Mr. Sunshine." We could just apply the "third time's a charm" rule here, but I think he's just found the right ensemble cast to replace his former friends, and the right character to allow him to do what he does best: teeter between awkward experiences and heartfelt moments. NBC is actually known for its workplace slash makeshift, non-biological family sitcoms, from "The Office" to "Community." They've cornered the market on people who exert crazy, unorthodox behavior during inappropriate times. And this series about a therapy group that work out their emotional issues, oversharing and overstepping their boundaries, is a perfect fit for both the network and Perry.

Best New Female-Driven Comedy: "The Mindy Project"
Tuesday night has become a neurotic and obsessive ladies' night on FOX, starting with Dakota Johnson on "Ben and Kate," escalating to Zooey Deschanel on "New Girl," and capping off with Mindy Kaling on "The Mindy Project." It's a comedy block of zany female fun that could've become repetitive, but didn't. While Johnson is busy trying to raise her daughter—and her older brother—and Deschanel is trying to master being an adult, maintaining a steady job and learning to stick up for herself, Kaling is confidently navigating the dating world and trying to further her medical career, in spite of many testosterone-fueled obstacles in both arenas. My favorite part of the series, however, is the love-hate relationship between Kaling and her costar Chris Messina. Not because they got that "Moonlighting" thing going on, but because unlike Jess and Nick on "New Girl," their hate is very believable. And his secret affection for her is very subtle. It has the potential to not reach a climax for at least two solid seasons, keeping fans at bay. "New Girl" fans, however, might get rabid as soon as next season. 

Best New Family Comedy: "The Neighbors"
Yes, I know this is a series about goofy aliens with British accents who befriend their new Jersey neighbors—and that that's ridiculous—but I swear it's funny and eye-opening. Think about it: If you had to explain your life, your traditions, your interests, and your habits to another culture or even just a child, you'd be surprised how stupid it all sounds out loud. Santa Claus. Playing hard to get. Predicting just how much affection you're allowed to show your child in front of his friends. All of it makes sense when you're doing it, like grammar, but then loses all logic, when you have to explain it. And that's why this series is so funny. It mocks the absurdity that propels the human race.

Best New Mystery Crime Drama: "Elementary"
If you're a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, like I am, in that you've seen the movies, the BBC series, and read the books and short stories—and are highly critical of them all—then you might want to give this new take on an old soul a try. Much like Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock is an obnoxious, peculiar investigator with a keen eye for clues and clever deduction methods. He may not have combat skills (as of yet) like RDJ or a pristine wardrobe like Cumberbatch, but he does share their similar lust for intrigue and adventure. The reason to not disregard this incarnation in favor of any of the others is simply his relationship with the female version of Watson, played by Lucy Liu. I'm comforted to have recently learned that they will never ever fall in love, which makes their bickering and heated quarrels that much more poignant for the development of their partnership—and friendship. This series is the making of Sherlock and Watson, an exploration into how two very different people complement each other so well that one is lost without the other.

Catch up on the first half of this season before they all return!